Attachment styles in women with vaginismus

Abstract

Objective: Attachment styles reflect individual differences in beliefs about oneself and others, interpersonal functioning and close relationships. This study intended to investigate attachment styles of vaginismus patients. Methods: Our sample was included 56 patients with vaginismus and 51 healthy women. Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction Scale (GRISS) and Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) were administered to the patients and healthy control group. Results: The scores of the vaginismus group for secure attachment scores were statistically significantly lower than the healthy control group while there was no difference between the groups for the fearful, preoccupied and dismissive attachment subscale scores. GRISS total and subscale scores were statistically higher in women with an insecure attachment style when the total sample as divided into two groups as secure and insecure attached individuals. Conclusions: These findings taken together support the notion that insecure attachment may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of vaginismus.